49ers select A.J. Jenkins in 1st round of draft

A.J. Jenkins played his last college game in San Francisco against UCLA at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in December.

It’s safe to say the speedy Illinois wide receiver didn’t expect his first NFL game to come in the uniform of the team playing in the same city.

In a move that came as a bit of a surprise to NFL pundits – and was a huge shock to Jenkins – the 49ers selected the honorable-mention All-American with the No. 30 overall pick in the draft. Jenkins, 6-foot and 192 pounds, had 90 catches for 1,276 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior.

San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh said the team clocked him running a 4.31-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson had the fastest official time (4.33) in Indianapolis and Jenkins ranked sixth (4.39).

Despite his credentials, Jenkins, who was viewed as a second-round pick, didn’t expect to have 49ers general manager Trent Baalke give him a call in the latter stages of the first round Thursday night. On a conference call with reporters a few minutes after he was selected, Jenkins repeatedly said he was “speechless,” adding at one point, “This is crazy.”

Jenkins, who was with his family in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla, initially thought a relative was calling him as a practical joke. He was so excited when speaking with the media that he couldn’t recall if it was Baalke who initially spoke with him.

“I had no idea I was going to go this early,” he said.

The 49ers say they did, however.

They received a call before their pick from the Vikings, inquiring about a trade at No. 30. The 49ers weren’t interested, and Minnesota made a deal with the Ravens, who had the No. 29 selection. Harbaugh said Jenkins, who had a pre-draft visit with the team, was the player they had targeted.

“Trent Baalke last night put his name in an envelope and said, ‘This is who we’re going to pick,'” Harbaugh said. “We all agreed on it and it held true. That was the guy we wanted and that was the highest player on the board when the time came to pick him.”

When the 49ers made the pick, Stanford tight end Coby Fleener and wideouts Rueben Randle (LSU) and Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech) were available. Those players, unlike Jenkins, were viewed as potential first-round picks, but are still available entering Friday’s second round.

“If we decided to trade back, there was a good chance we would have lost him,” Baalke said. “If you like the player, take him.”

The selection of Jenkins is similar to last year’s pick of defensive end Aldon Smith at the No. 7 spot. Smith, who had 14 sacks and was runner-up for the NFL Rookie of the Year award, was expected to be selected later in the first round, and the pick initially drew criticism.

Jenkins will add needed speed to an offense that includes wide receivers Michael Crabtree, Randy Moss and Mario Manningham. Of that trio only Moss is considered a deep threat, and it’s not certain if, at 35, he has the ability to stretch secondaries.

Jenkins averaged 48.6 yards per touchdown catch in 2011 and had five scoring receptions of more than 50 yards. Baalke noted that he will have to get stronger; Jenkins did 12 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the combine. Only six of the other 37 wide receivers in Indianapolis had a lower total.

“You’re going to find that there were a lot more people that liked A.J. than just the San Francisco 49ers,” Baalke said. “He would have gone a lot sooner tomorrow than a lot of people think.”

A.J. Jenkins

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6-0, 192

Age: 22

College: Illinois

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.

Of note: A two-year starter in college, Jenkins had 90 catches for 1,276 yards as a senior and earned first-team All-Big Ten and honorable-mention All-America honors. … He had 56 catches for 746 yards as a junior, ranking 111th nationally, and was an academic All-Big Ten pick. … Jim Harbaugh said the 49ers clocked Jenkins with a 4.31-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, which is faster than any official time by a wide receiver. … A versatile wideout who will compete for playing time with Randy Moss, Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham.

49ers on Friday

Picks: No. 61 (Round 2), No. 92 (Round 3)

Outlook: The 49ers could address their right-guard position, their only unsettled starting spot. … Guards Cordy Glenn (Georgia) and Amini Silatolu (Midwestern State) are still available. … San Francisco also might select a cornerback.